How To Add Sunlight To Your Overcast Photographs

I’m sure many of you have heard the saying “overcast skies make for amazing photos”. While it’s true that soft overcast light is usually more flattering on people’s faces, it can also make your photos super boring and even gloomy. So what can you do with your bag of tricks to spice up a photo session during cold, rainy, or overcast days? Damien Lovegrove explains how you can use a “dingle” (or more commonly a Cookie) to bring some pseudo-sunlight into your portraits . This clip is from Damien’s Speedlight Mastery DVD and he does a great job explaining this super useful technique that can be applied to many of your own shoots at almost zero cost. Next time you see those interesting shadow patterns while thumping through your girlfriend’s fashion magazines you can imagine the dingle that created them!

September 14, 2011
  • http://twitter.com/Resc0gitans Carlos

    I love this, I’m going to try to use this concept in about 2 days.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1403962574 Levy Moroshan

    Looks great!  I’ve done the same thing with a stack of glasses to add some interesting textures to backgrounds.

  • http://www.facebook.com/toddsurber Todd Surber

    Great stuff- thanks for the post guys! Cheers

  • http://WWW.LIFEASCINEMA.BLOGSPOT.COM SEAN SHIMMEL

    They say with piano, it’s not just the notes but the skillful pauses BETWEEN the notes that make the difference in a master’s performance. So, too, It’s these little touches of intentionality that make the difference visually. 

    PS… Damien’s finally visiting Chicago to offer workshops in spring of 2012. Hope to meet some F-Stoppers there  :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mikel-Maeso/100000251986296 Mikel Maeso

    Did he say sunny Spain? He obviously hasn’t been to northern Spain…Really useful post anyway, thanks :)

  • Garrett Byrum

    funny, i use my dingle a little differently…..

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=598226809 David Hulth

    Anyone know what the transmitter he has on his camera is called? I’m looking for something similar, but I thought the only way to remote a 580 was with another 580 :$

  • http://www.facebook.com/kyle.sanders Kyle Sanders

    It looks like a Canon ST-E2

  • http://www.facebook.com/kyle.sanders Kyle Sanders

    It looks like a Canon ST-E2

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=598226809 David Hulth

    Found it. Expensive thing :( Thank you for the help :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=716882270 Clay Kerri

    If you want a cheaper trigger set, try gadget infinity’s cactus v4. if you want some midrange triggers that hold up to being dropped, try calumet’s trigger system.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nikita-Sevostyanov/100000978288199 Nikita Sevostyanov

    or just use 7D :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506432237 Corey Melton

    i really like the final images (lighting wise, not so much a girl in a sloppy hoodie), but that guy is so hyper. watching is a lil difficult. good technique though. may give it a try soon. all in all, i learned something and i like it :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corne-Smetsers/100001529575533 Corne Smetsers

    Never thought of actually bringing something like that to a photoshoot haha. But really a nice idea! Should come in handy some day.

  • Gus Munoz

    Very clever and well presented. Who needs expensive backdrops when you’ve got a great imagination.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=563353245 Olivier Borgognon

    simple, clear, easy… and although the hoodie for “sunny and warm” doesn’t really go together it’s a great, cheap, simple to implement idea for future photo shoots. Love it, congrats and thanks to both him and fstoppers for sharing.

  • http://www.facebook.com/FirkinMichael Michael Battenberg

    Leave it to someone from Manchester to be able to create “pseudo-sunlight”!…  I’m gonna try it!

  • Anonymous

    Nice guy, nice vid and quality results.. i liked it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/melvinsamsin Melvin Sam-Sin

    Super handy video and a funny dude as well!

    he does have more videos about using the speedlite: http://www.lovegroveconsulting.com/speedlight_mastery_extras.aspx

  • Anonymous

    Love this guy, simple and funny!

  • http://twitter.com/OnevFoto O’nev

    dingle my word of the week :-) such a simple technique yet so effective. one of the reasons why i love visiting fstoppers..

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Williams/1049288034 Andrew Williams

    he killed it with a flash and a branch lol. anybody still think they need a 10,000 dallor PLM to make the shot.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Williams/1049288034 Andrew Williams

    he killed it with a flash and a branch lol. anybody still think they need a 10,000 dallor PLM to make the shot.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Williams/1049288034 Andrew Williams

    he killed it with a flash and a branch lol. anybody still think they need a 10,000 dallor PLM to make the shot.

  • http://twitter.com/Craeque Andreas Nielsen

    The problem with the 7D is, that it uses the flash on the camera to trigger the remote speed-light. Which in some situations can be seen in the shot. The ST-E2 does the same in theory but only lets out the IR light. So unless you can limit the camera flash to only let out the IR light, I think the ST-E2 is a better choice. Also you could just buy a cheap RF trigger ;D

  • Anonymous

    A simple RF transmitter will work as well but unfortunately not tranmitting E-TTL signals. An alternative to the expensive Canon ST-E2 ist the Yongnuo ST-E2. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Yongnuo+ST-E2&x=0&y=0

  • Anonymous

    Let’s get ready to dingle! I never heard this word before (no wonder, I’m German ;-) but I like this term!

    Very useful explanation of a simple setup from a nice guy!

    Thank you for sharing!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001462548384 Kevin Chan

    You can actually set the 7D to be a controller only, where it’ll trigger the speedlite wirelessly without actually firing during the shot.

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